Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2021

Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.,Service connection for left ankle disability (strain) is denied. The issue has been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 8, 2017 to December 26, 2017. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent effective February 25, 2013. A 10 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted. Other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of service-connected residual burns right anterior trunk has been granted. The claims for service connection for neck disability and bilateral foot disability have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination. The Veteran is required to provide releases for private treatment records, including those from Drs. P., F., J., K.E., M.D., and L.B., M.D. A new VA examination must be conducted to assess the current severity of his right knee and bilateral tibia disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for asthma and right knee meniscal maceration medial and lateral with osteoarthritis has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities was denied. The Veteran is granted a separate rating of 20 percent for right knee meniscal tear and a separate rating of 10 percent for right knee instability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor.,The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities was denied. The Veteran is granted a separate rating of 20 percent for left knee meniscal tear and a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to a lack of recent medical evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was granted, with a 60 percent rating for left knee disability (including limitation of motion and instability) effective from February 3, 2015. The previous claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his active service or any other condition, and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 20 percent, effective January 4, 2019. The appeal for a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, additional private medical records, and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development, including a thorough examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar strain and cervical spine conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives, specifically regarding the Veteran's statements about his back condition and its onset during service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome with a history of meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent for the entire appeal period. The Board denied an increased rating higher than 10 percent due to lack of limitation of motion that would warrant a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for left knee instability prior to February 7, 2021, and a 20 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the low back was found to be productive of disability equivalent to limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less, warranting a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's left foot disability is rated at 30 percent, effective April 27, 2006. The Board has granted a higher rating for the left foot disability and remanded other issues related to service connection.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the schedular ratings adequately account for the Veteran's symptoms and there is no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee enthesopathy and osteoarthritis were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran is rendered unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities from April 12, 2012 to June 28, 2018.